Oaxacan Foodways

Escape snow and ice in the birthplace of corn, mole, chocolate, and mezcal!

January 23 – 31, 2020 (over flow dates February 1-9)

Fee: $2,650 (airfare not included)

Experience the magic of Oaxaca, escape winter’s cold, and support the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute! Enjoy warm, wonderful, exotic Oaxaca, Mexico and its colonial architecture, archaeological sites, lively plazas/streets, textiles, pottery, museums, folk and fine art to dazzle, and culinary nirvana while learning about 8,000-year-old foodways in the villages of Central Oaxaca. This special itinerary will include three fresh food market tours, including a village tiangues (once-a-week event), two cooking classes, indigenous organic farmways, mezcal making, and deep magic.

Trip fee includes:

• $500 tax-deductible donation to the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute
• All in-country transport
• Private hotel room (a discount for double occupancy available upon request)
• Daily breakfast & lunch
• Guides and translators
• Entry/workshop fees

For More Info / To Register

Contact Janie Cravens at janie.e.cravens@gmail.com or 512-586-9300.

Open Heart Tours founder/owner, Janie Cravens:

Visit openhearttours.com for more info.

I’m Janie Cravens and my body lives in the Santa Fe, USA, while a big part of my heart lives in Mexico all the time. When I moved to Santa Fe in 2015 I immediately volunteered at the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market, first in the Café.  Who knew working a food service line would be that much fun?!  But I dreamed of helping the Institute in a more significant way, so I moved upstairs in 2016 and laid the foundation for the Docent Program and other volunteer opportunities.  Now the Institute has a paid position to handle these matters and the Docents can be seen during every market wearing their lovely yellow aprons!

I’ve traveled in Mexico literally all my life and am inexplicably drawn there — something tight in my shoulders relaxes, my heart opens, my mind expands/questions/delights, hurts lessen, and longings gets requited. Since I’m a major foodie, exploring Oaxacan farming, organic/sustainable movements, and the ancient ways of growing that they fight to protect has drawn a great deal of my attention.  I love providing travelers with all the delights this place offers, while channeling their money into helping Oaxaca remain Oaxacan. For those who are curious about such things: I was born and raised in San Antonio and lived most of my adult life in Austin. By profession, I am a clinical social worker with a specialized private practice, consulting to agencies and government entities on matters of child welfare.  A few years ago, I gave myself a “geezer gap year” and one of the consequences of that precious time was the birth of this tour company. After hosting dozens of groups in Mexico I decided to create Open Heart Tours and offer socially conscious travel that contributes in equal measure to the consuming that takes place on vacations plus help women, children and villages. Come and join me!